Gwaihir to Ghân, “I am not accustomed to giving rides even to so little a man. But I have some time for talk. I also bring word to both you and Bjorn. I am to remind you both that before this year is out, you must return to Radagast for your training as a shape-shifter. Indeed, I might be there myself to help the first two Druids as Radagast calls your folk now. Of course Bjorn has a head start over you in learning to shape change. Please pass the word on to him.” He pauses a bit and you hear a thunderous rumble from the Great Eagle. “Hmmm, Crebain is a bit too greasy; that Goodberry is probably just the thing I need. He delicately takes it from your proffered hand.”
Looking over the others that followed Ghân over to Falcon Master he nods to Thoroncir and Gil-Gandel.
Bird of grace, wisdom and power!
Mighty of pinion, talon and beak,
Who alone of all created things
meets the Sun’s gaze unwinking;
Servant of Manwe and Him alone,
knowing no other master,
but friend to weak and helpless,
thrice friend to the Grey Pilgrim,
saviour of the Ringbearer;
scourge of the wicked, heeding not danger,
whose kind of old dreaded not the Dragons,
and who of late recked naught of Nazgul:
Happy the hour of this meeting!
“And greeting to you joyful Elf. Good luck today and tomorrow for what you plan to do. I believe the Goblins know something bad is to happen, make sure you help to make it worse than they ever expected. It is time for these mountains to be free.
Well Master of Falcons, we shall be looking for strays when this is done but there are not enough of us to do all the work. Will you have fast ranging troops outside to hunt those that try to flee?”
Falcon Master replies, “The elves will have this covered and have both small groups of swift runners and four fierce companies of swift horse archers to handle strays and break outs.”
Over by Mulligan and the Dwarves; Freyja was indeed already stalking the toy, which amazingly keeps going. It hops, walks and jumps at haphazard moments in a seemingly random pattern until it finally hops back to where it started. This goes on for a full 10 minutes. The Hobbits both realize it must be one of the “Toys of Dale”; the most valued and precious toys of dreams for little Hobbit lasses and lads. They where first brought in by Bilbo and giving out during his most famous party, “The Great Party”.
Over the years both Thain Peregrin and Meriadoc had brought some few more in from Dale. But they are very rare and many of the originals have broken or been lost. Mulligan actually had one as a child, a marching drummer that Uncle Pippin had given her. Mulligan of course as is traditional passed it along to a younger child, one of Pippin’s granddaughters in fact.
Heading for the Door will happen soon now that the final plans are being drawn up We just await the final troops.
